As We Go Deeper into the Witchwood

As We Go Deeper into the Witchwood

Article:LeRooster

Graphics:Blizzard

April 1st, 2018 02:21 GMT

As We Go Deeper into the Witchwood

Today I am going to talk about some of the recent spoilers that have been released! It's difficult to assess cards because of the rotation and lack of complete set information, but there are a few that are worth getting excited about.

There are a few new mechanics in this set, both of which are actually defining a term for rules text that already existed: Echo, which returns the card to your hand after being cast only for that turn, similar to Unstable Evolution, and Rush, which grants minions Charge but they cannot attack heroes, similar to Charged Devilsaur. Additionally, there are cards that are even and odd matters, providing an effect if your deck contains only odd or even costed cards.

The playability of any echo cards, in my opinion, will be determined by their utility in both the late and early game. Any of the cards that are essentially useless or low impact early will not be worth running, but if they are effective early and scale into the late game then they have a high chance of seeing play. Of course, if the card can win the game on its own late it is an exception, but that doesn't seem like it will be the case. Having said that, Face Collector can create a ton of value late game for control or slower decks looking to roll the dice for some powerful cards. Glinda Crowskin is a different conversation all-together, though. The ability to give powerful battlecry minions echo in the late game gives this card potential to see play. In Arena, where stats matter a lot more due to limited amounts of clean removal, echo cards are likely to be much more impactful. A card as innocuous as Sound the Bells! on turn 6 could prove to be a powerful play.

As for the odds and evens cards, we will have to see if something like Baku the Mooneater is worth the restrictive deck building cost of upgrading your hero power. I have a hard time assessing the odds-and-evens matters cards simply because we lack a clear picture of the available cards and strategies. Genn Greymane, for example, doesn't seem worth it regardless. I'm not convinced your hero power costing 1 is good enough, unless it's aim is to combo some form of Death Knight ability.

Lord Godfrey stands out as one of the premier cards from this set. A two damage Defile that leaves a 4/4 body behind is sure to be a powerful card. Sure, it costs seven, but it is much easier to set up a board wipe with two damage than the one from Defile. Most likely, the decks that want this card are also playing Defile, and will be able to have a heap of AoEs.

Hagatha the Witch has pedigree already in that we know Death Knights and hero alterations are inherently powerful. All of them have seen competitive play at some point or another, and generally create a powerful ongoing source of advantage that is hard to combat.

Nightmare Amalgam is a card I am interested in because of its automatic synergy with various Minion type-matter cards. It may be useful in Spiteful Priest, or even Murloc Paladin. The stats alone as a fail safe are also reasonable, and can do some form of work even in a pinch. Vex Crow is another card that might turn up in a variety of decks as a value engine for something like Big Mage. Rotten Applebaum, though a bit expensive, has a slight potential to play in slower decks looking to heal up and gum up the board to buy enough time, but its cost might prove too prohibitive.

I'm still torn on the Echo cards. Face Collector is great value if he fits into a deck. Glinda would fit into a midrangey warlock deck. Echoing Knife Jugglers is good if she lives a turn, otherwhise not so much. The "best" echo would be something like a doomguard on T10.For control she's less good. the best utility minion to echo is Kobold Librarian. Not too good.Maybe she will spawn a new midrange deck with giants. bringing two or three giants on board is nothing to laugh at. Too bad Arcane Giants are rotating out. Sea Giant would be the next best candidate.

I think the last three cards are the ones with the biggest impact. Espeacially Vex Crow is on one level with Piloted Shredder.

On April 02 2018 03:51 Hryul wrote:I think the last three cards are the ones with the biggest impact. Espeacially Vex Crow is on one level with Piloted Shredder.

Sorry, but how is Vex Crow on the same level as Piloted Shredder? One is a deathrattle and can be dropped on curve, and the other requires a spell to be played, summoning a 2 drop- both of which are susceptible (and less sticky) to on curve board clears like hellfire and dusk breaker.

On April 02 2018 03:51 Hryul wrote:I think the last three cards are the ones with the biggest impact. Espeacially Vex Crow is on one level with Piloted Shredder.

Sorry, but how is Vex Crow on the same level as Piloted Shredder? One is a deathrattle and can be dropped on curve, and the other requires a spell to be played, summoning a 2 drop- both of which are susceptible (and less sticky) to on curve board clears like hellfire and dusk breaker.

Yeah, but I was thinking that it fits quite nice into secret mage: simply refill the board after a clear with Vex Crow and secrets or burn.Maybe a better comparison would be: it's a mix between Piloted Shredder and Flamewaker.The 4 health of Flamewaker do matter though.

Rotten Applebaum is good on paper but i believe is just not good enough. We have a 4 mana 4/4 Heals 4 as a battle cry and that card never saw any play. Its def going to be a good card to get out of Stonehill Defender thou.

Face collector is BAD. Not close to playable.

Nightmare Amalgam looks decent but in a world this card gets popular, ppl will tech in the crab beast that eats murlocs and this card will become a liability.

Lets not forget that Vex Crow is also a snowball card and i would not be surprised if it sees play in a new freeze mage deck once Ice Block goes away.

I'm not sure if the Applebaum is good enough or not. it kind of reminds me of Sludge Belcher. It's also two times bad against silence since both effects get removed with the same effect, but that's also true for Sludge Belcher.I'm generally thinking, it may be that the current meta moved away from medium sized Taunts to AoE. Maybe the new meta is slow enough to allow this kind of taunt again.

Nightmare Amalgam is a strong card and i.e. if it became a dragon enabler, nobody would tech in Hungry Crab against control priest. I mean we even have Paladin, Warlock and Mages playing weapons yet only in tournaments there is weapon hate. At least i don't encounter it regularly.

My thoughts about Applebaum:1- Healing is better as a battlecry2- Its overcosted when sitting at full health3- Does not trade very well. Belger always block at least 3 attacks even against a big minion, this card cannot.

You are probably right about Hungry Crab, i think i overthought a little bit.